Off and Running

While fishing in the cold wasn't too good this weekend, The Racing was incredible. The first 3 day event at the West Plains Motor Speedway this season had the Don Gibson signature surface and typical early spring Ozark weather. You can't do anything about the weather, but the folks from Minnesota thought it was quite pleasant. The Fans and Racers came into the area from Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri. Obviously this is great for the local economy, and that's what the Speedway has been doing for decades.

The car count was down a little, but the quality was outstanding. Local drivers really stood out and showed that the local guys can compete even with IMCA restrictions. For you non-fans, the visiting cars are considered Outlaws with a few track restrictions.

On Thursday night the WPMS 2008 Modified Champion, Shawn Walsh of Ash Flat took home the $1000.00 first prize and Brandon Ball of West Plains took one of two second spots of the weekend.

Friday, Walsh lost his engine and Ball finished third to take the lead in the points race for the $1000.00 dollar bonus. Oh, the winner Friday night? It was Peyton Taylor of Cave City, who had engine trouble on Thursday night. Lingering in the background in this Bonus Points Chase was Rex Merritt of Billings, MO and Ball would have to finish in the top five to win the CASH on Saturday.

A rain delay of about an hour was worth it as the track was the fastest of the weekend and racing continued to be three and four wide. When the evening ended Merritt dropped out, Taylor came from tailback to third, and Brandon Ball followed the eventual winner, Jared Landers of Batesville. Jason Hughes of West Plains came from the back to finish 4th. So Ball gets the big bonus and local cars showed very well. The next race at WPMS is April fourth and the beginning of a new era, bringing back the late models for a weekly show.

Now I want to insert some opinion. I personally would like to see the spring race be an IMCA sanctioned race. Why you ask? Well if you're familiar with the Sanctioning body system, you know that the Outlaws don't qualify. So why Tom, you ask? Most of the IMCA tracks are in the Midwest and in the early days we saw many of the northern cars that were still a month or so away from racing. They are looking for a race within the series. They would be new and different and they all have heard of West Plains, but didn't want to race the Outlaws. There are other Outlaw races on the same weekend, and it might have more appeal for local IMCA racers. I do recommend that we keep the Outlaw cars during the Show-Me Modified special in the summer, and even make the rules more Outlaw. To make this effective for next spring, I would announce it now to get IMCA on board and the racers prepared.

This IS MY OPINION and not endorsed by anybody else!

This is my world and thanks for joining me.